Andy Devanney: Clarets have the Premier League quality

For those of you that missed it I said that I thought that we still had a squad that were capable of taking us back to the Premier League as champions despite the loss of a certain striker to QPR.

A few people thought I had been hit by one of Charlie’s bricks.

However, after watching the first half performance against Nottingham Forest on Saturday and hearing the crowd sing about promotion I think that they are coming around to my way of thinking.

I was trying to be the eternal optimist more than a modern day Mother Shipton. But, boy, am I glad my prediction looks like it may be coming true.

Burnley were superb in the first 45 minutes after taking an early lead courtesy of Scott Arfield’s superb turn on the edge of the box and his “unbelievable tekkers” to nutmeg the Forest defender before slotting the ball past Karl Darlow.

The Clarets were certainly organised and looked to have fire in their bellies. Wave after wave of attacks contained the Nottingham Forest side to their own half. The lead was doubled by a delightful cross from Kieran Trippier that was met with a bullet header from Sam Vokes.

He doubled his tally ten minutes from the break with a deflected shot that looped in to the net.

Unfortunately football is a game of two halves. It would probably have been to Burnley’s advantage to miss it and play a full 90 minutes without a break. Such is the nature of the game, Forest came racing out of the blocks and pressed hard in the second half.

I think we still should have had a few more goals to be honest. Danny Ings had a few chances that went begging.

But to be fair the Vings partnership has resulted in more than 40 goals already this season.

That’s not too shabby. Derby County are next up at the Turf after sneaking up on us in to third place in the Championship. The term six-pointer has never been more appropriate.

If we beat them next Saturday then I believe automatic promotion is well within our reach. I can’t seem to remember who we play after that.

I’m sure that will be another three points though and maybe we might just catch The Foxes.

Ipsoregulated

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